Covid-19 and the effects of a global pandemic have affected everyone, but for Josef Maier, his focus was on being able to reopen The Pad in SLO after being closed since mid June. Maier is The Pad’s Route Setting and Youth Director, who has since made the gym’s safety and sanitary procedures a top priority, as it has become a concern for many of its returning members.
The Pad reopened September 23 at 10% capacity to abide by CDC guidelines for gyms in SLO county. Implementing power washing climbing walls, using 80% alcohol based chalk, and sanitizing high touch points throughout the gym have become new priorities in Maier’s job as Route Setter.
My partner Maya and I thought hearing the perspective of a small local and well loved gym during a global pandemic would be interesting for readers. “It was interesting to take a deeper dive into how Covid-19 has impacted a smaller, local gym. Before this story, the last time I was in The Pad was when I was a WOW leader and took my wowies there to climb. Even though that was only two years ago, it seems like ages ago now. Being able to see how much The Pad has changed and how the staff, specifically Josef, has adapted was very inspiring,” said Maya MacGregor.
The Pad, which can now hold up to 300 people, started out as a small climbing gym in a storage unit for a few local climbers. Although the gym has since upgraded to a larger facility, implemented yoga and climbing classes, and greatly increased the amount of members of the gym, one aspect has remained the same: The Pad’s sense of community. After opening three locations in Las Vegas, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Maria, The Pad still remains a 24/7 gym where members can climb their hearts out after a long day.
“What I found to be really interesting about this story topic is that it is the story of an underdog. The Pad went from being a tiny storage unit, to a huge facility with much anticipation to reopen. When reaching out to community members, it was clear that they were all thrilled to see their favorite gym continue to be successful even through a global pandemic,” said Marley Myers.
The Pad has opened its doors to new opportunities for its members to exercise their mental health through climbing. “For me it was really important for mental health. It’s such a huge part of the way I relieve stress in my life, and obviously this closer has been stressful for me in a lot of ways. I think that being active, especially climbing itself, it has this element to it that is just beyond exercise. It can really allow you to focus on something that is really positive. For me it’s such an obsession and it brings a lot of joy,” said Maier.